Over 400 reportedly killed by alcohol related illness in Kotido

7 April 2025, 12:59 pm

By Stanly Ebele

A report by the Karamoja Peace and Environmental Protection Service (Kapeps Ministry) has revealed that 498 people died due to alcohol-related causes and starvation.

The report, covering a period of 15 years from 2008 to 2023, indicates that the consumption of crude waragi and other local spirits was responsible for the deaths reported over this period.

The report, compiled through interviews, community verification visits, and questionnaires to local authorities, reveals that in Kacheri Sub County alone, a significant 221 people (including 46 women and 175 men) are said to have died after consuming alcohol on an empty stomach.

In Kotido Municipality, 162 people reportedly died from alcohol-related illnesses, with 42 of them being women, while in the greater Panyangara area—which includes present-day Kamor, Loletio, Rikitae, and Napumpum—132 deaths were recorded.

The report also highlights that 77 Karachunas lost their lives in raids against Teso, Acholi, and other districts in Karamoja, which were triggered under the influence of alcohol.

The author of the report, John Bosco Akore, the founding member of Kapeps Ministry, stated that these alarming numbers demonstrate how deadly crude alcohol is to the Karamoja region.

He said he plans to take the debate to the next level to engage key stakeholders, such as District Councils, and encourage them to take proactive action by forming by-laws and ordinances.

In Karamoja, alcohol consumption, particularly of locally brewed and potent spirits, is linked to increased domestic and interpersonal violence, economic hardship, and health problems, including alcohol-related diseases and mental health issues.

Alcohol abuse contributes to a range of health issues, including liver disease, heart disease, and mental health problems.